Colombo Dockyard starts work on modern engineering workshop at Hambantota International Port

Guests being welcomed to the event by CDPLC MD/CEO Thimira S. Godakumbura 

The Colombo Dockyard (CDPLC) last week ceremonially laid the foundation to build a full-fledged engineering workshop at the Hambantota International Port (HIP). 

This ceremonial occasion will kick off construction of the engineering workshop in line with the contract signed between the CDPLC and the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG). The foundation laying commenced with the traditional chanting of Pirith, which blessed this historic event and the construction process of this engineering workshop facility. 

This facility is a testament to the growth and innovation in the maritime industry of Sri Lanka, which services the regional and international maritime markets from one of the most strategic locations in the global maritime map. This workshop will strengthen service availability and the speed of service to clients, improving the economics for the end user. This new engineering workshop, when in operation, will extend the service footprint of the Colombo Dockyard to the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka. 

The Hambantota International Port stands as a beacon of progress for Sri Lanka. Strategically located on one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, this deep-water port has rapidly become a key player in global trade. This allows the CDPLC to offer afloat repair services to a multitude of vessels calling for transshipment, bunkering and other operations, and dedicated afloat repairs. 

The Colombo Dockyard’s Rapid Response Afloat Repair Service (RRARS), which was launched in 2019 to provide afloat repairs services at all Sri Lankan ports, has played a crucial role in providing required repair support to vessels in Sri Lankan waters. 

The CDPLC plans to complete setting up the workshop facility within a short period through Dockyard General Engineering Services (DGES), a fully-owned subsidiary of CDPLC. The excellent facilities available at the HIP, with over three and a half kilometres of deep draft berth – selected berths serviced with cranage – come in handy for the execution of speedy afloat repairs. 

The august gathering was addressed by CDPLC MD/CEO Thimira S. Godakumbura, highlighting the importance of this facility to serve maritime industry requirements from one of the pivotal locations in the maritime map. 

He also took the opportunity to thank the team from the China Merchants Group (CMG) and HIPG, HIPS, and all other distinguished guests for their support and taking the time to patronise this momentous occasion. 

The event was graced by CMG Executive President Shi Dai, CMG Vice Executive President Wang Xiufeng, China Merchants Port Group CEO Xu Song, HIPG CEO Johnson Liu, HIPS CEO Capt. Ravi Jayawickreme along with senior CMG officials, and officers from HIPG; Sri Lanka Customs SDDC Rajapaksha, Sri Lanka Navy Commodore W.T.A. Wasantha, and Shangri-La Hambantota General Manager Refhan Razeen.

Representing the CDPLC was Managing Director/CEO Thimira S. Godakumbura, Technical Consultant S. Nozaki, Ship Repair Business (SRB) General Manager S.G. Senadheera, Yard Development General Manager P.S. Abeysinghe, SRB Consultant K.B.P. Fernando, Dockyard General Engineering Services (DGES) Managing Director N.M.K.B. Nayakarathna, SRB Addl. General Manager S.H.P.K. Ranatunga, DGES General Manager S.D. Gilbert, SRB Assistant General Manager Darshana Chandrasekara, Ship Repair Marketing Ass. Business Manager Amila Rukshan, Planning Head Avantha Gunathilake, Afloat Repairs Section Head Y.R.A.M.P. Rajapakshe, Civil and Yard Development Section Head M.S. Sendanayake, and other officials. 

The CDPLC celebrates 50 years of operations in 2024 since its establishment in the year 1974, while marking 31 years of successful collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd., Japan since 1993.

Dignitaries ready to lay the foundation stones

Laying the foundation stones at the auspicious time